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A buddy of mine organized a small gathering of his p-car friends a while back... Quite a strong representation of 993 ownership in this picture. We all swapped keys at one point or another and it was only then that I finally "got" the air cooled thing. I'm sure it's because I'm used to it by now but when I drive my 997, it's almost routine. If I'm just going to the local grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk, it drives like a normal car. The 993 felt much different. It was much more of an experience. The car feels so much smaller, and the driving position has you sitting upright just behind a relatively-vertical windshield that gives you a commanding view forward. I likened it to having a front row seat. The sounds, the smells, and the overall feel of the car make you feel like it's much more of an occasion driving it, even if going down the street to the supermarket.
As far as wanting a 993 goes: I'd never subject one to anything remotely resembling DD duty. This is in stark contrast to the 997, which for a variety of reasons is much better suited for use as a DD. Given my limited garage space it makes no sense for me to own a car that I can realistically drive such a small percentage of the time. But if I know going into it that all I want is an awesome weekend car that will ALWAYS feel special no matter where I go, *and* I have a daily driver that keeps me happy the remaining 95% of the time I need to get somewhere, I'd look into a 993.
At one point, I thought I might move to a 997 GT3, but in reality, my RUF R-Kompressor with a full Stage 2 Suspension and TPC DSC box, handles like one. Yes, it's missing the higher redline and Mezger engine, but actually makes more power (475-485 HP), and is nicer inside with lots of leather and carbon fiber, AND back seats with seatbelts for the kids, so I'll probably be keeping that one forever. With me and Porsches, next isn't really about replacement, it's about what might fill a different niche - I've got the super analog mid-engine 914, which is like go-karting, the open top V8 GT muscle car in the 928, but the 911 is my favorite of all of them, so at some point, I'd love to add a 993TT - the look of that car is just perfect in my eyes - aggressive and curvy and fast, and raw, and analog, and oh...I need to lay down. Either that or an older air cooled RUF .... or my ideal - a RUF 993 TT. I'd also love to have a Carrera GT but doubt that will ever happen financially.
A buddy of mine organized a small gathering of his p-car friends a while back... Quite a strong representation of 993 ownership in this picture. We all swapped keys at one point or another and it was only then that I finally "got" the air cooled thing. I'm sure it's because I'm used to it by now but when I drive my 997, it's almost routine. If I'm just going to the local grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk, it drives like a normal car. The 993 felt much different. It was much more of an experience. The car feels so much smaller, and the driving position has you sitting upright just behind a relatively-vertical windshield that gives you a commanding view forward. I likened it to having a front row seat. The sounds, the smells, and the overall feel of the car make you feel like it's much more of an occasion driving it, even if going down the street to the supermarket.
As far as wanting a 993 goes: I'd never subject one to anything remotely resembling DD duty. This is in stark contrast to the 997, which for a variety of reasons is much better suited for use as a DD. Given my limited garage space it makes no sense for me to own a car that I can realistically drive such a small percentage of the time. But if I know going into it that all I want is an awesome weekend car that will ALWAYS feel special no matter where I go, *and* I have a daily driver that keeps me happy the remaining 95% of the time I need to get somewhere, I'd look into a 993.
Great picture! You can certainly DD a 993, so don’t let that little concern get in the way of your dream! I wouldn’t recommend sloppy winter conditions with sand and salt (nor would I recommend that for your 997) but otherwise they are perfectly capable of driving every day and racking up big mileage. Any situation you use your 997, a 993 would also work well. If you are worried about depreciation with use, don’t. You are already in a depreciating car, right?
I drove a 997 and it felt normal to me too. A wonderful car, but it’s a normal, modern-car kind of wonderful. I could own one and be perfectly happy, but I’d always miss the 993 experience...
The 993, and all air-cooled cars, are decidedly not-normal.
See you over in the 993 forum once you get one of your own
I don't plan to sell the 997 C2 or the 991 GT3. I would like to add a 911 SC (77-83) to my garage but I don't have the time to take care of one more car right now.
I plan to keep my 997 forever. It's my DD at the moment, and I worry about wear and tear. When its not my DD, I'd love to go to more DEs.
If money were no object, a Singer would be awesome.
This one reminds me a funny story of my parents. Years ago my dad bought my mom the car of her dreams. A Mercedes 300SD. Some time after that, my Dad made the comment to her that the great thing about this car is she can drive it for the "rest of her life". She told him she never wants anything for "the rest of her life" and sold it the next day. I guess I know where I got my genes from.
...and to finish my earlier comment. The Singer is a car I would look forward to as well. Classic styling with newer technology. :-)
Life is too short, particularly if you are my age, you realize you need to experience more, and not less and you can't turn back time cause it is never as you remembered it anyway. So for me, I want the latest and greatest to stretch my life experiences (you young guys will se what I mean in a few years :-) )... So bring on 992, and Ferrari and Lamborghini and so on....
this is a great reply and inverse to my own philosophy as a younger man. ‘Give me yesterday’s technology today dammit!’ The old soul in me I guess but damn I love my 997. Newest and best car I’ve ever owned. 993tt will be in the garage soon.
I don't plan on selling my 2012 GTS soon if ever. I would like to get an air cooled 911 at some point or maybe a 996 GT3. Price and lack of space keep me from doing that so I see myself picking up an RS4 in the meantime.
Have owned 993 C4, 996 TT, and now a 997 GT3. The 993 and 996 were great cars, I have only good things to say. But the GT3 is worlds better than either and by far the most fun I've had in a car. After this I don't think I could go back to older aircooled cars unless it was a 3rd or 4th vehicle and not a primary "fun" car. I can see myself someday going for a 997.1 GT3 RS, or a 991.2 GT3. But I expect to be in the 997 GT3 for a while.
This thread goes through my mind almost daily and speaks to why sometimes my BaT, Autotrader, small business sites eat into my productivity!
Stepping up to a GT3 would be fun, and obviously it would blow the performance of mine out of water. But the reality is I don’t squeeze everything out of the 997. On a regular basis it would just be an added amount of excess power.
That said, and older 911 is the one itch we are really looking at. A 3.2 or SC would be a perfect sweet spot. Got tired chasing the mkt a couple years ago and took a pause. Ended up getting an air cooled beetle to putz around in and wrench on. Slower than death. But have to say it is fun; not 997 fun, but a completely different fun trying to squeeze every bit out of it. Can’t imagine how much fun one of those older 911s are on a twisty, but going to find out next year hopefully!
12-05-2017, 01:37 PM
